Principles of a Strong Mathematics Programme

H a r r i s F e d e r a t i o n , L o n d o n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

Yeap Ban Har

Marshall Cavendish Institute Singapore

yeapbanhar@gmail.com

Slides are available at

www.banhar.blogspot.com

Strong mathematics programmes ensure

that

- the weakest students learn enough

- the average learners perform at a high

level

- the advanced learners are challenged

Strong mathematics programmes include

- a focus on intellectual abilities such as

visualization, generalization and

number sense

- an emphasis on the development of 21st

century competencies such as

communication, self-directed learning

and so on This is achieved by

- using visuals (Bruner)

- making meaning (Skemp)

- providing careful variation (Dienes)

Royston Primary School, London

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Mathematics is “an excellent vehicle for the

development and improvement of a person’s

intellectual competence”. Ministry of Education Singapore 2006

Page 1

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Page 4

High achievement was not a given. In 1960,

among 30 615 candidates who sat for the

first Primary School Leaving Examination,

only 45% of the candidates passed.

Keon Ming Public School, Singapore

Today, about the

same proportion

achieve the

highest grade in

each of the four

subjects tested.

110 g

290 g

Page 2

110 g

? ?

2 units = 290 g – 110 g = 180 g

1 units = 180 g 2 = 90 g

3 x 90 g = 270 g Bella puts 270 g sugar on the dish.

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